Madhya Pradesh
Sirpur Lake
- 13 Nov 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Recently, on the National Green Tribunal's order, a team from the Indore Municipal Corporation removed encroachments and cleared stalls from the catchment area of Sirpur Lake.
- It was designated a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention on January 7, 2022.
Key Points
- About Sirpur Wetland:
- It is a Human-made wetland, often called Pakshi Vihar (bird sanctuary). It is located in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It is more than 130 years old, made by Maharaja Shivaji rao Holkar to generate water supply for the city of Indore.
- It is a shallow, alkaline, nutrient-rich lake that floods during monsoon.
- Biodiversity:
- Hosts around 175 terrestrial plant species and six types of macrophytes.
- Supports 30 fish species (natural and cultured), and eight species of reptiles and amphibians.
- Home to 130 bird species, including resident and migratory birds such as, Common pochard (Aythya ferina), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Indian river tern (Sterna aurantia).
- Attracts a large congregation of waterbirds in winter, making it a significant seasonal habitat.
- Benefits to Local Communities:
- Provides fisheries and medicinal plants.
- Acts as a flood buffer and helps regulate the local microclimate.
- Offers opportunities for spiritual enrichment, recreation, and educational activities.
- Conservation Status:
- The site currently lacks a formal management plan and does not have national legal conservation status.
